| Re: Does a the bus fare cap seriously jeopardise rail service use? Posted by Mark A at 20:47, 5th November 2026 |     |
For some journeys, even if the bus fare wasn't capped, coach services must still be a problem for the railway. Rail from Thurso is particularly unfortunate as the £2 coach can serve the ferry terminal whereas a ferry passenger travelling by rail, thinking of taxis, is likely to be having a tug of war with the school run,. Then there's the sparks effect of the "Electric coach vs diesel train' on a circuitous route" factor.
Oh, a few years ago and a two journey sample, north of Kinbrace, I've never had the opportunity to pay a rail fare. Paying on board, both times, for some reason, my card was fine, bought something from the catering trolley person, but the ticket machines refused to issue tickets.
| Re: Does a the bus fare cap seriously jeopardise rail service use? Posted by grahame at 20:25, 5th November 2026 | |
I remember spending a couple of days in Wick about 6 years ago and going to the station there to catch the morning train homewards, change in Inverness. Train was there, driver, catering crew but there was a problem - no guard, and the train left with the handful of passengers still on the platform.
A little research told us of the bus to Inverness and I and a couple others walked to where it left from, and took it to Inverness instead. And rather sadly for rail, we got there at about the same time the train would have done, and connected into the train headed south. Oops - and it makes the train hard to justify for OUR journey.
There are, though, several dozen intermediate stations between Wick and Inverness, and the journey I recall certainly did not serve all those places on the bus ...
| Does a the bus fare cap seriously jeopardise rail service use? Posted by grahame at 20:16, 5th November 2026 | |
From The BBC
The £2 cap on bus fares in the north of Scotland could halt investment in rail services as passengers desert the more expensive train network, campaigners have said.
Ian Budd, convener of The Friends of the Far North Line, said the Scottish government had "effectively shot themselves in the foot" by capping bus fares, making them far less expensive than rail services covering the same route.
While a single bus journey from Thurso to Inverness now costs just £2, the same journey by train costs between £16.60 and £28.
Transport Scotland told the BBC it would continue to monitor the impact of the £2 bus fare cap on passenger numbers and wider transport behaviour.
Ian Budd, convener of The Friends of the Far North Line, said the Scottish government had "effectively shot themselves in the foot" by capping bus fares, making them far less expensive than rail services covering the same route.
While a single bus journey from Thurso to Inverness now costs just £2, the same journey by train costs between £16.60 and £28.
Transport Scotland told the BBC it would continue to monitor the impact of the £2 bus fare cap on passenger numbers and wider transport behaviour.
